PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Courtney Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Boss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Byrd
vs
Boss

217 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Courtney Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Big Boss!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Boss bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Boss goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Byrd has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Boss but great work by Byrd.
Boss looks winded!
Boss parries the strikes from Byrd easily there. Byrd is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Boss to escape.
Boss managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Byrd.
Boss looking for a sweep but Byrd has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Byrd takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boss is in a horrible position here. Byrd smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Byrd looking for a guillotine from mount but Boss is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Byrd connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Byrd is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Boss has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Byrd throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Boss because Byrd loaded up on that one.
Boss tries to reverse the position but Byrd maintains control.
Byrd working Boss over with strikes here.
Byrd controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Boss defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Byrd.
Byrd looking to control but Boss is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Byrd has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Byrd controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boss tries to hold on but Byrd pushes him away.

Byrd is working for a guillotine from mount but Boss frees his head quite easily.
Boss is wriggling around trying to escape.
Byrd controlling the pace for now.
Boss is trying to stand.

Byrd gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Byrd fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Boss avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Boss pinned against the cage. Boss gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Byrd looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Courtney Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Byrd misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Boss as he avoids it easily.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Boss as he avoids it easily.
Boss with the counter takedown but Byrd avoids it easily.
Big Boss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Byrd feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Boss has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Byrd is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Boss has clasped his hands together around Byrd's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Byrd throws Boss to one side and escapes!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Courtney Byrd dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sloppy strikes from Boss. Those never looked like landing.
Byrd wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown but Boss shows good takedown defense.

Byrd tries to sprawl but Boss drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Byrd has one foot on Boss's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown but Boss shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Byrd fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Courtney Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Byrd or perhaps it was just good defense by Boss, which made it look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boss defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Byrd.
Boss tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Boss fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Byrd sprawls well initially but Boss persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Boss takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Boss trying to control the action but Byrd is working from the bottom.
Byrd is looking to control Boss's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Byrd avoid being mounted?
Boss lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd wants to control but Boss is keeping busy.
Boss missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boss thows a huge punch but Byrd dodges it nicely.
Byrd works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boss missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Byrd is on top in guard.

Byrd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Byrd stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Byrd throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Boss tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Byrd is in Boss's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boss looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Byrd thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Byrd is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Boss can do anything to dispel that myth.
Byrd trying to control but Boss is working from the bottom.
Boss really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Byrd. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Boss wants to sweep here but Byrd controlling him for the moment.
Byrd is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Byrd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boss works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Byrd changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Boss looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Boss explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Nice takedown defense from Boss. No joy for Byrd on that attempt.

Boss shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Big Boss will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Boss dives in and scores a takedown into Byrd's guard.
Byrd trying to control the position.
Boss must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Byrd seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Byrd is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Boss is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd is trying to control the position but Boss postures up.
Byrd bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Boss's guard.

Byrd trying to control but Boss is working from the bottom.
Courtney Byrd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Byrd distracts Boss with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Boss tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Byrd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Byrd wants to stand but Boss has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Boss wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Byrd is now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Byrd throwing shots but Boss is blocking nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Byrd shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Byrd was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Byrd has hold of Boss's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Boss seems comfortable defending it but Byrd has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Boss is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Boss is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Byrd couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Courtney Byrd!